My Heart Beats For You,

"Dean," There was a knock that followed as Dean looked up from his suitcase.
"Excited for the trip?" Ethan asked, walking inside with a glass of milk for his brother.
"Not really. I'm worried. It's been a long time." Dean smiled at his brother as he replied, leaving the shirts aside.
"Don't worry, everything will be good," Ethan said, giving the glass of milk to Dean and sitting next to him on the bed.
"Hope the same." Dean sips a little and looks ahead at the picture of their growing childhood. The frames have collected dust in them.
"It would have been nice if you would have joined us," Dean said with a lingering smile while glancing at his elder brother.
"Trust me, if I knew being a photographer you can travel anywhere for free. I would have surely tried this career."
"Brother, don't take up something because it looks good for now. You should first think about whether it gives you happiness."
"Well, are you happy?" This question paused Dean's movements as he was going to sip again. "Are you liking this profession, which is different from teaching?"
"Yeah, it's good. I get paid better. My friend is calling me a 'to-be model'. He is happier than me. My colleagues congratulated me and wished me luck. In the company, people are very polite and humble; I don't have any trouble communicating with them."
"Good. If you are comfortable, that is fine. Then I'm happy too." Ethan smiled, ruffling Dean's hair.
"When was the last time you went on a trip?" Dean asked, keeping the empty glass aside.
Ethan thought for a moment and replied. "It was probably a college trip."
"After this project ends, We'll have a family outing," Dean suggested, looking at his brother with a soft smile.
"We'll all go out somewhere, maybe anywhere, as long as it's away from this life." Dean further added, earning a quick nod from Ethan.
"Ain't you liking this life?" Ethan asked, looking at his brother with confusion. He thinks that, as a brother, he isn't taking care of this brother. His dear brother suffered from heart disease. He wanted to be there, and probably he should try better.
"It isn't like I don't like it. Sometimes, distractions are needed. Sometimes, we should admire things other than money." Dean explained, looking at his brother and sighing, guessing the turmoil inside his head.
"You are my brother, and I'm lucky to have someone like you." Dean held Ethan's hand. "Thank you for being my brother." Dean smiled as Ethan replicated the same.
"I'm thankful too." Ethan pulls Dean in for a hug.
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"Teacher?" Dean looked at the source and smiled at Ayan, who was running towards him. His eyes fell on Roman, pushing a trolley with their bags.
As Dean dove down, Ayan smiled brightly and hugged the man.
Roman looks at the duo and smiles softly, watching his son be embraced like the precious boy he is. As soon as Ayan saw his teacher, he left his father behind.
This teacher-student bond is very special. Probably something that Roman will never understand. He tried to keep them apart; however, their fate always brought them together. He realized it was a waste of time and should better accept that his son could be happy in someone else's embrace other than his.
"How are you?" Dean asked, holding the boy's delicate face, who giggled while hugging his teacher again.
"I'm feeling nice. I was so sleepy when Papa woke me." Ayan whined on Dean's neck, earning chuckles from the audience.
"Your son is very cute, Roman," Liam says, looking at the boy who shyly hides in Dean's embrace.
"Yeah." Roman smiled at Liam and looked back at his son. "Soon you'll know about his mischievous side too."
"No, I'm a good boy." Ayan quickly declines and looks at Dean. "Right, teacher?" Dean chuckled and nodded his head.
"Yeah, yeah. We'll see about that." Roman spoke playfully, wriggling his eyebrows.
"Chalen--chalan...ak--accepted" Ayan looks at Dean for help with his eyes.
"Challenge accepted?" Dean asked, hoping that was the right word.
"Yeah, what the teacher said," Ayan said, looking at his father. "Same-to-same." Roman looks at his son with adoration and a soft smile. His son is too cute.
"At least, you learned to say the same instead of shame."
"Teacher," Ayan says, jutting his lower lip at Dean."Papa is being a meanie." He pointed at his father.
"Roman, don't forget we're on a company trip," Liam whispered in his ear, expecting Roman to realize and get back to his company mode.
"It's ok, all Papas is the same," Dean said, standing up and forwarding his hand. "How about we buy some snacks for you?" Dean asked Ayan, who looked at his father for approval.
"Go and don't bother your teacher too much," Roman said, and Ayan quickly held Dean's hand, pulling him towards the food court.
"I know a place where we can get chocolate," Ayan said, widening his eyes as he looked around. He looks at his dad as he steps toward the check-in counter.
"Papa!" Ayan quickly ran towards his father, leaving a confused Dean behind.
He watched Ayan animatedly move his hands around and say something. Roman fishes through his handbag and pulls out sunglasses. Ayan wore them and walked towards his teacher as though walking on the red carpet. full of swag and style. It won't be a surprise if he becomes a superstar.
"I'm ready," Ayan said while pushing the glasses over his nose bridge. "This way, your highness." Dean smiled and held the boy's hand again.
Ayan skipped his steps while walking with Dean. When he saw large chocolates, he would gasp and whine because his father forbade him from eating them. Although he's exaggerating because Roman just limits Ayan's access to sweets and doesn't ban them,
"Can I get this?" Ayan asked, picking up a small pack of chocolate and looking at Dean.
However, Dean already saw the way the boy was looking at the boxes of Belgian chocolates. But he only has a limited amount of money right now, and the trip has only just begun; he has no idea how much it will cost. His medical bills are also included. Moreover, items at the airport are more expensive than in his town. If he could buy the same chocolate, he would see it all over the hill station.
"Sure," Dean said as he walked to the cashier, holding other items. 
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Everyone is sitting in the waiting area with other people, listening to music, munching something, or looking at the scenario while taking pictures and posting them on social media.
Dean and Roman are sitting on either side of the said boy, who is crushing waffles between his milk teeth and smudging chocolate around his mouth. Roman is trying to wipe the boy's mouth once in a while, throwing a glare. However, he melts upon hearing the boy's giggles.
"So, you go to Dean's school?" Sabastian asked, sitting on the available chair on the opposite side.
"Yeah, but why would I address him as "teacher" if he is not my teacher?" Ayan asked as though it were the most obvious thing, and for a second, Sabastian felt stupid in front of the boy.
People stiffened their laughter, whereas Sabastian puzzledly stared at Ayan. The said man expected a shy or excited 'Yes' from the kid.
"That's a smart reply." Liam compliments. People around chuckled, adoring the boy more.
"Teacher, you never told me..." Ayan looks at Dean and shakes his head, looking at his father now. "You said the teacher doesn't work for the company," Ayan said carefully, hoping he pronounced the words correctly, before turning to face Dean. "You said this was a company trip." He leans forward, unaware of the different eyes following his movements. "What is teacher Dean doing here?"
Roman held his son's mouth and laughed awkwardly. His son is too smart sometimes, throwing him into an awkward situation. "Your teacher joined recently."
"Yeah," Dean said, as Ayan looked at him too. "I wanted to try a new life with a different ambition," Dean explains, taking the napkin from Roman and wiping the boy's lips.
Roman didn't object to giving the napkin and smiled at his son, who nodded.
"You'll always be my teacher, right?" Ayan asked, blinking his eyes. Dean nods with a smile.
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When they reached their destination, the team was exhausted. They just want to sleep in their room. Ayan was sleeping on his father's shoulder with pouty lips. Roman didn't get into trouble with his luggage because the teammates were kind and helped him.
"You guys rest here." Liam gestures for them to sit on open couches in the hotel. "Meanwhile, we'll collect the keys from the reception." Liam continued, motioning for Roman to follow him.
Roman's arms were hurting now. He has been carrying the boy from the plane to the car. The boy didn't move from his dad's arms, whining when Roman tried to put him in the car seat.
"Baby," Roman whispered in Ayan's ear. "Can you sit here with others? Papa's arms are paining dear." Roman tried to make Ayan look at him.
"No," The boy whined and almost shrieked while shaking his head.
"You said you were brave," Roman whispered, and he followed Liam to the reception.
Sabastian saw this and noticed the man's exhaustion. He looks at Dean, who was typing something on his phone. "Can you hold your student?" Sabastian said, nudging him.
"Huh, who?" Dean blinks, not understanding his gesture.
"Ayan. The boy is troubling, sir. Even I wasn't this clingy to my father." Sabastian explained, looking at Roman patting Ayan's head.
"Oh, one second." Dean keeps his phone aside and paces toward his student.
"Hello, everyone." The team looks at Freya walking towards them. They gave a small smile.
"I wanted to join you guys for this journey. But my manager didn't allow it." She made a pitiful face and looked at each person present, from the cameraman to the make-up artists, helpers, and others.
"You guys must have enjoyed it very much." She continues speaking, and her eyes are locked on Sabastian, who is standing with crossed arms.
"Yeah, it was nice. All thanks to Ayan." Sabastian said earning nods from others was important.
"He's an adorable boy."
"I was so energized that the battery died."
"Yeah, he was so excited, and looking around with big eyes is just so adorable."
"Also, very smart and cunning," Sabastian mumbled, still having bitter thoughts of their previous conversation. He can't believe the boy proved him dumb there. His image is completely ruined now.
"Ayan's here?" Freya asked in a surprised tone. She didn't think about it.
"Yes, he's sleeping now." A member of staff responded by pointing to the reception area.
"Oh, Dean's bringing him here. Sir must have tried carrying him around." Another member of staff spoke as Freya turned around with wide eyes. Her beautiful hair fluttered in the wind.
Dean was hugging the boy and cradling him. He pats his back as the boy also continues to sleep in his teacher's arms.
"That's a surprise. He was not ready to leave, sir. However, he's sleeping in Dean's arms now."
"It's not a surprise. After all, Dean is his favorite teacher."
"Teachers are like our second parents, right?"
"Yeah, they teach us to write the alphabet and teach morals, just like a parent does."
"True. Dean's like his second parent."
The staff persisted in talking among themselves as Dean stood next to Sabastian. Unknown to them, a lady clenched her fist while keeping a fake smile.
"Hey, champ. After making a fool of me, you're sleeping peacefully. Not fair." Sabastian pokes Ayan's cheek with a chuckle. Ayan whined again, fisting Dean's collars.
"Hush, don't disturb him," Dean said, moving away from the man and cradling the boy. He was so busy making the boy comfortable that he forgot about her new presence.
"Hello," Freya said as she approached Dean and looked at Ayan's sleeping face.
"I'm his aunt. His mom and I were childhood friends." Freya said, confusing others and giving confirmation to Dean, who smiled, thinking of being assertive.
"He's like my son." Freya opens her arms and looks at Dean. "If you don't mind, can you give him to me?"
Dean nods. After all, Ayan will be more comfortable with someone he knows. Since Freya is claiming to be his aunt, he must be familiar with her.
"Sure, he'll be more comfortable with you," Dean whispered, letting Freya hold Ayan. However, the boy whines.
"Teacher, let me sleep." He clutched Dean's shirt and hugged his neck tightly. He pressed his face against his neck and snuggled close to his teacher.
"Uh, let it be, ma'am," Dean whispered, looking at Freya, who was embarrassed. Even he would feel the same in this situation.
"Sorry for keeping you guys waiting." Roman and Liam returned to the team, holding many keys.
"Alright, we'll call you one by one. As you all know, we cannot afford individual rooms for many people, and we'll have to rent them for at least a week. So, I hope you don't mind sharing." Liam explained, hoping the team would understand. The team nodded while looking at each other.
"A group of four will be good. So, choose your roommates consequently." Roman said, keeping the keys on the table. "When you are done, write your name in the chat group, and after verifying, we'll give you the keys."
The team discussed among themselves and wrote down their names, taking the key and stepping inside the elevator one after another. Sabastian saw the people working together for a long time and already having a group. He would have proposed that Dean, he, and another girl stay together, then remembered that Freya would obviously not stay with them. He realized that a lady might not be comfortable staying with males around. With confusion, he sat next to Dean.
"Freya, you have got a room, right?" Liam asked, looking at the two more keys available as everyone left except for the newcomers and them.
Freya thought for a moment and looked at the two keys; the possibility of her staying with Roman was 50-50. She parts her lips to say 'no'.
"Of course. She reached here before us, and her manager will surely get a room for her." Roman replied as a matter of fact, catching the girl off guard.
"Then, would you mind sharing with your associate?" Liam asked as Freya looked at the girl, who looked down, feeling shy.
"I don't mind," Freya said, gesturing for the lady to follow her.
"Don't worry, we can pay for her room, right?" Roman asked Liam, who nodded his head.
Freya walked away from there too. She doesn't want any more disdain. They were conferring about her among themselves as though she is invisible. Moreover, Roman didn't talk with her.
"Dean will share a room with me," Sabastian said, standing up.
"Will you be comfortable sharing a room?" Roman asked Dean at the same moment. Their voices would have almost synced if it hadn't been for the word choice.
Roman looks at Sabastian and nods his head. "Let's go," Roman said to Liam, giving the key to Liam and sliding another toward the sitting duo.
"Let's go, baby," Roman whispered, taking his son from Dean.
Ayan whines why is everyone bugging him? He looks at Roman with hardship, wanting to ensure that it's his father. He closes his eyes again as Roman presses a tender kiss on his crown.
"Thank you for taking care of him," Roman said to Dean, then walked away from there with Liam.
"Let's go, Dean. I'm feeling so tired that I'll melt on the bed now." Sabastian mumbles, stretching his arms.
Suddenly Dean is feeling a coldness within him as Ayan is not hugging him anymore. He nodded his head absentmindedly.
⋇⋆✦⋆⋇
"Why did you ask for Dean to share a room if you're going to leave like that?" Liam asked, looking at Roman as they stood in the elevator.
"I asked because of my son. Probably after me, the person Ayan cares about the most is him." Roman explained his point while patting his son's back.
"Oh..."
"Yeah, I forgot about the other person's choices." Roman looks at Liam. "That's why I left when I realized my mistake."
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